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Having physical reactions to his emotions isn’t something new to Din. Ever since he was a little kid he would react outwardly to his emotions. Whether it was flapping his hands when he got excited, repeatedly clenching his fists when he was overwhelmed, or even punching his leg when he got really upset.
He vaguely remembers his mother having similar reactions to her emotions, so he always thought it was just something everyone did. It wasn’t until he was rescued and moved into the covert, that he learned that wasn’t the case. Everyone there was still, almost all the time, unless they were sparring.
The armorer explained it to him once, while he was still young. She called it “stimming,” she said it was just something his brain did. She explained that it was something he was going to have to learn to hide if he were to be a mandalorian. Din was confused why as a kid, his mother never had to hide it, why should he? But as he got older, he got more and more self conscious about his stimming. None of the other foundlings reacted the way he did, so Din assumed that if he wanted to be a true mandalorian it was something he would have to hide.
Din learned to hide his stims around others early on, only outwardly reacting to his emotions when he was alone. This worked well for Din, it was a method he brought into adult life as well. No issues had come of this arrangement previously. Din was used to living alone, spending most of his time away from other people, meaning he could stim openly more often than not.
It was how he preferred it. It made it easier. Until he got Grogu. With Grogu in his care Din found himself around someone more often than not. Din was so used to hiding his stims around others he instinctively did it with Grogu as well.
The more time Din spent with Grogu, the more he realized Grogu had similar reactions to Din. Often flapping his hands or putting them up in the air when he was happy. Din had never met someone else other than his mother who so outwardly stimmed.
Din grew more and more comfortable around Grogu, starting to stim around his son on occasion. Grogu always got extra excited whenever his dad would stim alongside him, flapping his tiny arms even harder in response.
When Grogu was taken from him to go train to be a jedi, Din was devastated. Not only did he lose his son, he lost the only other living being he has ever felt like himself around.
That was, until he met Luke.
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Din is now living on Yavin IV with Grogu and Luke. After the first time Din came to visit Grogu, Luke invited him to stay, and who was Din to say no to such an enticing offer? Din will still occasionally go out to hunt a bounty, getting restless otherwise, but for the most part he stays on Yavin IV, not wanting to be far from his son.
Din and Luke have developed something of a friendship between them. They don’t talk often, but when they do it’s easy. Din likes Luke, he feels comfortable around him, and maybe he has a little bit of a crush on him.
Din denies it for the first few months, thinking the way he reacts to Luke is just because he is unused to being around one person for so long, but after a while it becomes undeniable.
Din is enthralled by everything the Jedi does. He swears he has never seen another being as beautiful as Luke Skywalker. Din gets very easily flustered around Luke, especially when he compliments him, which he seems to do a lot.
While he’s since accepted that he has feelings for Luke, he’d sooner die than tell him. He likes what they have with each other, it’s easy. Plus Luke is Grogu’s teacher, it would be wildly inappropriate for Din to start a relationship with him. At least that’s what Din tells himself, in reality he is just terrified Luke won’t feel the same way.
Din has gotten used to hiding his feelings throughout the years, so he thinks he’ll have an easy time hiding his feelings for Luke. He could not be more wrong.
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He first notices it one day when he is watching Luke with Grogu. The two are meditating together, as Din watches from a little ways away.
Luke looks ethereal like this, Din thinks. So calm and relaxed. Din watches as Luke’s hair begins to slowly float, the rocks surrounding him beginning to rise into the air around him. Din feels his breath catch at the sight, not able to think about much else other than how beautiful the Jedi looks in this moment.
Din doesn’t even notice he’s lightly flapping his hands until a minute or so later, so enthralled by Luke he forgot himself for a moment. As soon as Din notices he quickly ceases his movements, not wanting the Jedi to open his eyes and see him like that.
Din chances one last glance towards the pair, before walking back inside their hut, to go to his room, trying to get a hold on his emotions before he has to interact with the Jedi again.
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The second time it happens Din doesn’t realize Luke is watching him. He is with Grogu in the living room, playing with some of his toys with him.
Grogu has a bright smile on his face the whole time, loving spending time with his dad. Grogu takes his stuffed rancor, a gift from Boba Fett, and pretends to attack Din with it. Din lets out a dramatic pained yell, and falls to the ground. Grogu lets out a loud laugh at his dad’s antics, throwing his hands up in the air with excitement.
Din lets out a low laugh at his son’s excitement, moving to sit up once again. As soon as Din is sitting up, Grogu pretends to attack him again, making Din pretend to fall to the ground in pain once again.
Grogu lets out an even louder laugh this time, Din wildly spreading himself out on the floor as if he were dead.
“You have defeated me, oh mighty Grogu,” Din says dramatically, making Grogu laugh some more. Din lets out another laugh of his own, laying in place for another moment before moving to scoop up Grogu.
Din picks up Grogu, making Grogu squeal in delight, before moving to sit up once again. Once Din is sitting up, Grogu still in his hands, he moves and lifts Grogu up into the air, swinging him back and forth.
Grogu lets out another loud squeal at this, clapping his hands at the movements. Din swings Grogu back and forth a couple more times before moving him back to the ground. Grogu still has a large smile on his face when Din sets him down, making Din smile as well.
Din feels himself start to bounce in place a little bit, happier than he’s been in a long time, playing with his son. Grogu lets out a little laugh at his dad’s movement, starting to bounce up and down some as well. Din feels himself smile wider at his son’s movement, loving how easy it was for Din to be himself around Grogu.
Neither Din nor Grogu hear Luke walk in. Luke just stands in the doorway for a moment, watching as Din and Grogu interact with each other, smile on his face.
“Looks like you two are having fun,” Luke says after a minute, smile evident in his voice.
Din feels himself tense up at the sound of Luke’s voice, knowing there was no way Luke didn’t see him stimming just a moment ago. Grogu lets out an excited yell at the sight of Luke, running over to his teacher on tiny legs, and holding his arms up, asking to be picked up.
Luke complies with Grogu’s request, with a small laugh. Din slowly stands up, feeling himself go to wipe his hands on his pants, a nervous stim, before catching himself and bringing his hands to his sides.
Luke looks up at Din’s helmet with a smile, making Din’s nerves ease some.
“I came in here to let you know dinner is ready,” Luke says to Din, Grogu letting out an excited noise at the mention of food.
Din replies with a short nod, acknowledging Luke’s words, before following him into the kitchen. Din grabs his plate from Luke with a thank you, before moving to his room to eat, leaving Luke and Grogu to eat in the dining room, as he usually does.
Luke’s eyes follow Din as he retreats, feeling the unease flowing off him through the force, but unsure what it is from. Grogu frowns up at Luke when he sees the matching frown on Luke’s face, unsure why his master is suddenly upset.
Grogu makes a little questioning noise, asking Luke why he is upset, which makes Luke look down at his young padawan.
“It’s nothing Grogu, don’t worry,” Luke says with a small smile, handing Grogu his dinner. Grogu isn’t entirely convinced by Master Luke’s words, a small frown still on his little face, but he quickly forgets all about it when he is given his food, focusing all his attention on his meal.
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The third time Din stims in front of Luke, it’s bad. Din has had panic attacks most of his life, but he’s never had one in front of someone else before.
Din has been doing good lately, really good, suspiciously good. Ever since moving to Yavin IV with Luke and Grogu, he’s only had a handful of panic attacks. Din feels comfortable here, happy, safe. There wasn’t really anything to panic about.
Until tonight. Din wakes up with a start, hearing screaming. It takes him far longer than he thinks it should to realize it’s him screaming. He’s shaking like a leaf, not even noticing his movements, too overwhelmed trying to get any air in his lungs. He’s taking in gasping breaths, but he still feels like his brain isn’t getting any oxygen. He feels like he’s dying.
He is so overwhelmed by everything he’s feeling after being abruptly awoken, he doesn’t even notice the door open. As soon as Din sees a figure in the doorway, he is quick to grab his viroblade, aiming it at the intruder.
“Sorry!” A familiar voice startles out, “I didn’t mean to scare you, I just heard screaming and wanted to make sure you were alright.”
As soon as Din realizes it’s just Luke, he drops his viroblade on the ground with a clattering sound, suddenly too weak to hold the light blade. Din feels his breathing catch, eyes filling with tears.
“Luke?” Din asks, barely above a whisper, with the weakest voice Luke thinks he has ever heard.
“Yeah, it’s just me,” Luke reassures, “I can leave if you want-”
Luke is quickly cut off by a loud “NO,” from Din. Luke is startled for a moment before relaxing again, and taking in the sight of the man in front of him.
Din is shaking so hard Luke thinks he’s going to fall off the bed. Din’s lightly punching his leg, seemingly unknowingly so. Din’s neck is twitching every now and again, body looking as if it was unable to control his movements. Din is breathing in heavy breaths, but still looking like he could pass out any moment. His hair is matted down with sweat, and eyes are filled with tears.
It isn’t until Luke makes this last observation that he realizes Din has his helmet off. Luke quickly throws a hand over his eyes, shutting them as well for good measure.
“Din, I’m so sorry! I didn’t even process that you weren’t wearing your helmet, I’m so so sorry!” Luke stutters out, his own anxiety suddenly filling him, worried Din would be furious at him.
“Luke,” Din sobs out, an absolutely devastating and gut wrenching sound.
Luke feels himself moving towards the other man, without really meaning to. He keeps his eyes closed, using the force to feel his way through the room and to the bed. Din barely notices Luke coming over, still trying and failing to breathe normally.
Once Luke is close enough to Din, he reaches out a hand to touch him, before thinking better of it, and drawing his hand back.
“Do you want me to touch you, or would you rather I just sit with you?” Luke asks, keeping his voice calm and steady despite the worry he was feeling for Din.
It takes Din a full minute before he chokes out an, “I don’t know,” sounding more uncertain and confused than Luke had ever heard the man before.
“Okay, that’s okay,” Luke says soothingly, Luke reaches out and tentatively grabs the hand Din was still punching his leg with. Din lets out a pained gasp at the movement, quickly pulling his hand back from Luke’s grasp and hitting his leg harder.
“Din,” Luke says, trying to keep his voice calm, but feeling his own tears spring to his eyes at the pain he feels radiating from Din through the force.
“Please,” Din Sobs, “it hurts Luke. It hurts so bad, I don’t know what to do.”
“What hurts?” Luke asks, feeling helpless standing in front of a man so broken.
“Everything,” Din chokes out, falling into a pit of sobs. Luke feels his heart break at the response, wanting nothing more than to hold Din in his arms, but knowing it wasn’t what the man needed right now.
Luke takes a moment to collect his bearings, pushing his own emotions about the situation to the side before he moves. Luke crawls onto the bed beside Din, eyes still closed. He gently reaches for a pillow that had been discarded in Din’s thrashing. He places the pillow over the leg Din has been punching. It’s not enough to stop Din from completely hurting himself, but it’s enough to soften the blow.
Luke reaches out to Din through the force, sending as much comfort and love as he can, hoping Din will feel it. It seems to be working, as after a few minutes Din’s breathing starts to even out. He is still moving erratically, and crying some, but it seems to be subsiding bit by bit.
“Luke,” Din chokes out again, reaching his hands out to find the other man. Luke is quick to respond as soon as he feels the first touch of Din’s hand against his arm. Luke pulls Din into his chest, letting the man sob until he doesn’t have any tears left. Luke feels a few of his own tears fall, hating how absolutely wrecked the normally put together man sounded.
After a half hour or so of Din sobbing into Luke’s chest, soaking his shirt through with tears, his breathing finally becomes even. Luke is stroking Din’s hair with one hand, his other moving in small circles against Din’s back, trying to comfort him as much as he can.
Luke feels Din’s breathing slow even further, as he falls asleep on Luke’s chest, exhausted from his panic attack. Luke continues stroking his hand through Din’s hair, carefully maneuvering them both so they were laying on the bed, instead of sitting upright.
Luke presses a light kiss to Din’s hair, before drifting off to sleep himself, promising he’ll keep Din safe through the night.
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The next morning Din is the first one to wake up. It takes him a minute to figure out what is different, before he realizes the smaller form underneath him, and memories of the previous night come flooding back.
The memories are a little fragmented, Din’s brain too overstimulated and panicked to properly process and remember everything, but it was enough for him to figure out what happened.
Din feels himself tense against Luke, hot shame rolling through him as he realizes just how much of Din Luke saw the night before. The fact Luke saw his face isn’t even in his top ten biggest worries right then as he goes through the memories of the previous night.
Din removes himself from the bed as quickly and quietly as he can, not wanting to wake up Luke. Not wanting Luke to see him.
Din walks to the living room, forgoing his helmet, honestly forgetting it was something he would normally put on, in his panic.
Din paces around the living room, obsessing over everything that went wrong. He was sure Luke would hate him now. Would see how weak he is. How he’s not a real mandalorian. He can’t even control his own movements, for god’s sake!
Din is working himself up into another panic, tears springing to his eyes again, when he hears the door to his room open, followed by light footsteps.
Luke walks into the living room, still half asleep and not entirely aware of his surroundings, until he spots Din, quickly closing his eyes again when he realizes he’s not wearing his helmet.
“Din, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know you were in here, I was gonna make us some tea, I figured you had gone to check on Grogu or something. Are you okay?” Luke stutters out, feeling foolish and guilty for once again accidentally seeing the mandalorian’s face.
Din feels himself break even further at the words, tears starting to fall down his face as he shakes his hands hard, unable to stop himself, despite Luke’s presence.
“Din?” Luke asks again, voice softer, as he slowly steps forward.
“I’m sorry,” Din sobs out, tears steadily streaming down his face, “I’m so sorry Luke, I understand if you hate me, or want me to leave, I won’t argue. I’m sorry Luke, I’m sorry.” Din’s words get quieter and quieter with the last sentence, until his words are barely above a whisper.
Luke reaches out his left hand, using the force to guide his way to Din’s cheek and wipe some of the tears off his face.
“Hey,” Luke starts with the kindest, most beautiful voice Din has ever heard, “What are you sorry for? Why do you think I’d hate you?” Luke’s words are full of sincere curiosity and confusion, sounding as though he truly had no idea why Din might think he’d hate him.
Din stands there for a moment, dumb founded at how the man in front of him truly seemed to hand no idea what Din was talking about.
“I-,” Din stutters out, “you saw me, last night. How weak I really am.”
Luke brushes the fresh tears that fall down Din’s face at the words.
“Sweetheart, you’re not weak at all. You’re so so strong. Much stronger than me,” Luke whispers, moving his forehead to rest against Din’s. Din lets out another choked sob at the words, leaning into Luke’s touch, and moving his own hands to hold on tight to Luke’s waist, as if he’d fly away if he didn’t.
“Luke, please,” Din breathes out, breathing raw and scratchy from his sobbing. Din isn’t even entirely sure what he's asking for, but thankfully Luke seems to know. Luke takes his right hand to rest on the other side of Din’s face, both hands now gently brushing away tears.
Luke takes a moment to breathe in the feeling, before he moves slightly so his lips are brushing against Din’s. It's nothing more than mouths resting against one another, but it’s exactly what they needed. Din lets out a breath, feeling a piece of himself he didn’t know was broken, starts to slowly mend itself at the feeling.
They stay like that, lips pressing against each other, just breathing the other in, not worried about moving, for a long time. Din is the one to pull away first, moving his forehead so it’s lightly pressing against Luke’s once again. Neither of them speak for a long moment, content just basking in each other;s presence.
Din is the one to break the silence, surprising the both with the soft noise.
“Can, can I ask you for something?” Din chokes out, voice still watery, but more at ease now.
“Of course, anything,” Luke says, and he means it more than anything he’s ever said.
Din feels his breathing catch on the sincerity of Luke’s words, taking another moment to collect his thoughts before he speaks again.
“Open your eyes, please,” Din says, voice barely above a whisper, he sounds scared, but not unsure.
Luke takes a moment before he asks, “are you sure?”
Din breathes out a soft but certain, “yes,” and Luke is slowly opening his eyes.
Luke’s eyes take a minute to adjust, slightly blurry before coming into focus again, and when they do, Luke thinks it’s the prettiest sight he’s ever seen.
“Hey,” Luke says quietly, a smile plastered on his face, eyes meeting Din’s properly for the first time. They’re so beautiful Luke thinks he could die in this moment, and be content.
“Hi,” Din responds, slightly awkward, a small goofy smile on his face as well. There are tear tracks that run down Din’s face, his eyes red from crying, and nose a little runny, but Luke thinks there has never been someone more beautiful than Din in this moment.
“You’re beautiful,” Luke says, sounding almost breathless. Din is caught off guard by the admission, cheeks turning a bright pink as he processes the words. He doesn’t respond for a long moment, not quite sure what to say. Thankfully Luke, again, seems to know just what to do.
“Can I kiss you again?” Luke whispers, eyes darting down to Din’s lips before moving back up to his eyes.
“Please,” Din says, a broken sound, as his hands tighten almost imperceptibly on Luke’s hips.
Luke leans in, giving Din time to pull away in case he changes his mind, but Din has other ideas. As soon as Luke gets a little closer, Din surges forward, capturing Luke’s lips with his own once again. It’s slow and unpracticed, Din not really knowing what he’s doing, but it’s perfect. It’s them.
Luke licks lightly over Din’s bottom lip, asking permission. Din lets out a soft whine at the motion, moving to open his mouth for Luke. With the first swipe of Luke’s tongue against his, Din swears he is going to pass out.
Din has to pull back, so out of breath, he feels himself get dizzy.
“Are you okay?” Luke asks, worried at how quickly Din seems to be breathing.
“Yes, so good, it’s just a little overwhelming. I’ve, I’ve never kissed anyone before,” Din admits a little sheepishly, still struggling to catch his breath.
Luke isn’t shocked Din’s never kissed anyone before, but the admission still comes as a bit of a surprise.
“That’s okay, we can take it as slow as you need,” Luke reassures, pressing a light kiss to Din’s cheek.
They stand there catching their breath for another long moment before Din speaks again.
“Can we sit down?” He asks, suddenly sounding exhausted. Instead of responding, Luke gently grabs Din’s hands and leads him to sit on the nearby couch. Once Din is seated, Luke sits down next to him, hands still clasped.
They sit there for a moment before Din is suddenly grabbing at Luke’s hips, and pulling him onto Din’s lap with a low groan. Luke laughs at Din’s movements, caught slightly off guard but in a good way. Luke rests his hands on Din’s chest, looking down at the other man, as DIn rests his hands on Luke’s hips, staring at his lips.
Luke gets the message and leans down to kiss Din once again. This kiss is more heated. Luke licks into Din’s mouth, causing him to let out a moan into the kiss. While Din may be inexperienced, he’s quite the quick learner, Luke is realizing.
This time Luke is the one who has to pull away, panting against Din’s mouth. Din takes the opportunity to gently roll his hips up into Luke’s, causing them both to let out low moans.
“We still have an hour or so before Grogu wakes up,” Din says in a low voice, mouth close enough to Luke’s they brush with the movement. Din rolls his hips up again, letting Luke feel his hard length, to better get his point across.
Luke lets out a little laugh at this, before his expression turns serious again.
“Are you sure Din? We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” Luke says, and he means it. He would be more than happy to just sit here and hold Din’s hand all day, not needing anything more.
Din leans up and lightly kisses Luke again, pouring affection and love, and trust into the kiss. Luke gasps at the emotions flowing off Din through the force, making him feel safer than he ever has before.
“I want to,” Din breathes out, moving to pick Luke up and carry him to his bedroom.
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It’s a few months later, and Din is sitting in their now shared room, nerves bouncing off the walls. He is going to ask Luke to marry him. He feels the custom beskar ring he got for Luke, engraved with a small mudhorn, sits heavy in his pocket.
What if he says no? What if he hates me? Is it too soon?
Worries are bouncing through Din’s head so rapidly he doesn’t realize he’s bouncing his leg, or that Luke has come into the room, concerned look on his face.
“What’s wrong sweetheart?” Luke asks, coming and sitting next to Din on the bed, hand resting gently on Din’s bouncing leg, making it slow some.
“What makes you think something is wrong?” Din asks, feigning innocence, despite knowing it's pointless.
“Baby, the last time you were bouncing your leg this hard was when we let Han baby sit Grogu for the first time. Tell me what’s wrong,” Luke says gently, Din wincing slightly at the mention of how worried he was the first time Grogu stayed with Han.
“I’m sorry, you're right. I’m just nervous is all,” Din says, resigning to the fact Luke sees right through him, one of the many reasons Din loves the man in front of him.
“What are you nervous about?” Luke asks, gentle curiosity present in his voice.
Din takes a deep breath before he speaks again.
“Well, I kind of have something I need to ask you,” Din begins. Luke squeezes his hand lightly over Din’s knee, giving him a reassuring smile.
“I um, I love you, more than anything,” Din starts, eyes already getting misty. “You’re the love of my life, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Grogu.” Din pauses to pull out the box the ring is in, gently holding it and opening it for Luke to see, Luke letting out a gasp at the sight.
“Luke Skywalker, will you marr-?” Din is cut off by Luke tackling him to the bed. Luke wraps his arms around Din’s neck, silencing him with a fierce kiss.
“Yes!” Luke says into the kiss, tears in his eyes.
“You didn’t even let me ask you,” Din teases, smiling so wide his cheeks hurt.
“Sorry, right,” Luke says, moving off of Din with one last kiss, and letting him sit up.
“Okay,” Din says, sitting up and facing Luke once again. “Luke Skywalker, will you marry me?”
“Yes! Of course I’ll marry you!” Luke yells, smiling just as wide as Din.
Din is so happy he can barely stand it, he starts flapping his hands with excitement, forgetting he was holding the ring, making it go flying. Din doesn’t notice until he hears the beskar hit the floor, eternally grateful it could withstand just about anything.
“Fuck,” Din curses, still smiling wide and not really caring that he dropped the ring. Luke laughs slightly, bending down to pick up the ring from the ground.
Luke looks over the ring, in awe at the delicate carvings of the mudhorn, the ring so beautiful he thinks he just might cry.
“You had this custom made?” Luke asks shakily, tears filling up his eyes. Din suddenly gets self conscious at the reaction, moving to bounce his leg slightly again.
“Yeah, do you not like it? We can always get you a new one, you don’t have to-” Din is once again cut off by Luke’s lips on his own. Luke kisses him eagerly, smiling so wide into the kiss they have to break apart.
“I love it,” Luke promises, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Din responds, forehead resting on Luke’s, wide smile still on their faces, that neither of them think will be leaving anytime soon.